Who says holiday shopping has to be stressful or super expensive? In fact, if you go about it the right way, you may even have fun and learn about a bunch of extremely cool .CA businesses along the way!
For this holiday season, we’ll help you deliver the most delight per dollar, the maximum smiles per simoleon. You get the idea. Let’s dive in, shall we?
1. Set a budget for yourself before you start shopping.
All those uber-thoughtful holiday gifts can add up—especially as you work your way through every special someone on your list.
A great shopping strategy is to set a budget right off the bat. Think through the people you’re buying gifts for and map out how much those gifts will realistically cost. Then, keep accurate track of your spending as you shop to ensure you’re not going overboard.
Sure, “expense tracking” doesn’t exactly scream holiday magic…but it’s worth not starting off the new year with a bloated credit card bill!
2. Dig for those discounts!
Yes, you certainly could battle it out on Black Friday or Cyber Monday for deals. But the time-limited nature of those sales could make you feel pressured to spend before you’re ready.
Instead, you might want to look at rebate sites and apps—like Rakuten.ca and Great Canadian Rebates—that give you cash back on gift purchases, discount codes and coupons when you use their platforms to shop.
Another savvy saving tip that’ll make your Auntie Joyce proud? Price matching. Many of the biggest retailers have a price match policy in place and will honour it if you provide proof of a competitor’s lower prices.
3. Put those credit card rewards (or unused gift cards) to work.
This is the perfect time to have a closer look at your credit card’s rewards program. Sounds like fun, right? No—seriously—do it! Many credit cards offer points and rewards that you can put towards your holiday shopping efforts.
Pro tip: one of the best ways to use credit card points is on gift cards rather than merchandise!
4. Spread out your shopping.
Depending on the length of your list, it might not be possible to grab every single thing in one go. And definitely don’t leave your shopping ‘til the last minute.
Ultimately, we don’t want to see you join the ranks of the lost, despairing souls, trawling through your local mall on December 24 at 2:00 in the afternoon.
5. Look out for holiday shipping deadlines.
They aren’t a new concept, but still something you shouldn’t ignore, lest you risk holiday disappointment. Most of your favourite Canadian businesses will communicate their holiday shipping deadline clearly in the header of their webpage, on their social channels and in promotional emails, so, there’s no mystery!
6. Gift a subscription box.
Gift boxes are big on “wow” factor and can help you cater to just about every whim—from fine brandy and cigars to self-care and gourmet cookies. There’s a pile of awesome gift boxes to choose from, and best of all? You’re supporting local .CA businesses to boot.
And if you want that gift to keep on giving—even after the Christmas tree is out on the curb or the menorah is packed away—you can choose multi-month subscriptions.
7. Shop from businesses where your gift recipients are located.
If you’re in Ottawa, and need to buy a gift for Aunt Helga, who lives in Vancouver, buy from a local business there and have it shipped directly to her house rather than across the country. This way you can support a local business, and probably save a few bucks on shipping!
8. Browse gift guides.
There is a whole other world of amazing gifts for you to explore and discover. The kinds of gifts that score high marks for heart-feels and uniqueness!
All you need to do is look in the right place…like our .CA Small Business Gift Guide! It features well over 300 Canadian businesses providing everything from small-batch drinks and gourmet treats, to handcrafted decor and high fashion.
9. Look into how “local” a business is.
If you’re looking to support the local economy and minimize your carbon footprint, look into where product materials come from, how/where they’re assembled, and where they ship from.
A URL with a .CA domain is a loud n’ proud indicator that a business has a connection to Canada—but this doesn’t necessarily guarantee that products will ship from Canada.
10. Check out reviews before you buy.
Customer reviews are one of the single best ways to know if your hard-earned holiday dollars are being well-spent! When looking through reviews, make sure to sort by “recent” so you’re getting up-to-date information. Also—it never hurts to ask for recommendations from friends, family and coworkers.
Reviews go both ways, too. If you’ve had a great experience with a business, take a few minutes to share your honest thoughts and help spread the word to others!
We wish you all the luck and happy hunting as you embark on this year’s holiday shopping!
Kira is the Content and Channel Marketing Lead at CIRA. She focuses on content, digital marketing and channel strategies to help Canadian business owners make the right domain choice for their business website so they can find success online.
